Steering feels a little jerky

[teg]

Carefully looked over that hose/tube, looks as good as the day I bought the tractor, no cracks, no splits, no nothing...

If you have not replaced it... I bet that's it. It's the 1.5 in tube by your right foot (near the brakes). About a foot long, bent 90* - you have to pinch it sometimes to show the cracks.

Some photos here:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/122787-l3400-hydraulic-leak.html

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

UPDATE: after replacing the bent oil filter it was the same, took a second EXTENDED look at that hose coming up by the brake pedals, sure enough, on the inside by the floor area it was cracked, Actually had to look with a mirror behind the hose to actually see it, couldnt hardly even feel it since kubota had painted thick pain on it but it was there, which im glad to know since im assuming thats why my hydraulics have changed in the last week, steering is jerky and the FEL is much slower than normal.

Now onto the next question, I know its probably best to replace this with an OEM hose but at $30 plus shipping if i go that route, is there any other type same size hose that would work or does it have to have that EXACT bend in it? Seems to me that entire area should be metal pipe just like this rubber hose connects to or at the very least just a much cheaper reinforced rubber hose but then again it wouldnt have that excat bend in it. Anyone ever went back with something besides the kubota hose?

 

[k0ua]

I have never heard of anyone using anything but the OEM hose. I had one, (as a spare, ) but I shipped it to one of our members after I traded off my L3400.

 

[teg]

OEM is all I've heard... let us know if you find something else that works... No dealers nearby? I used duck tape for a temporary fix, until I could buy a new one.

 

[yamrpt]

Sounds similar to what my hydro 3540 does, I compare it to steering wheel lock like on a car for a split second when I'm stopped and have to turn, like when using the loader. I'm leery letting a dealer look at it cuz they don't know if they'll have to take the cab off or not

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

new hose fixed mine, amazing. This hose affected my FEL by making is slow compared to what is normal, my steering was jerky and my 3 pt was slow. One small 1/2" crack along where the clamp was did all that. I went back with the OEM hose but sure looks like a heater hose would have done the same thing.

 

[/pine]

...but at $30 plus shipping...

For a k_ubota OEM part that's a bargain IMO...even more so if it resolves your issue...

 

[Cooter88]

If the hydraulics work good at idle the problem will not be in the suction. The main pump and the steering pump use the same suction tube, and the steering pump uses much less oil. I would say check the king pin bearings on the axles for binding, and if there is no problem there the problem most likely lies in the steering pump itself.